A couple of things I’ve wondered about for quite some time are when and how many/which songs were initially recorded for LITD in 1970 and what the initial release date of I’m Eighteen was. My curiosity has further been piqued by this article (a link is also posted on the STUK home page) detailing the writing and recording of I’m Eighteen:

My curiosity 1st started when I read Me, Alice for the 1st time. In it, Alice states that Warner Brothers Records originally budgeted for only 4 songs to be recorded by the Group: ‘Eighteen’, ‘Body’, ‘Sun Arise’ and ‘Nervous’. The 1st 3 songs are of course well known but I’ve never seen reference to a song named ‘Nervous’ anywhere else, except for the fact that a song called You Drive Me Nervous appeared on the next ACG album, Killer. I don’t know if there is any connection between ‘Nervous’ and YDMN or if the former was just a working title for another (possibly un-released) LITD song.

In the article I provided the link to, Bob Ezrin states that “Jack (Richardson) wanted me to start by recording just four songs”. Further down, Alice states that “In the fall we recorded ‘Eighteen’ and three other songs…”

Also, the initial release date for the single I’m Eighteen I’ve always seen is November 11, 1970 but that date has been disputed in this website/these Forums and possibly elsewhere.

It appears to me that 4 songs were initially recorded (likely in Oct. 1970), then I’m Eighteen was released as a single on the date I mentioned above. The song became a hit, then – as also mentioned in Me, Alice – the band went back into the RCA Studios (in December 1970) to record the remainder of the album.

There is a possible discrepancy in Me, Alice, as it’s stated there that the Group started recording LITD in Dec. 1970.

I’d like to get the thoughts of others here on the above, in particular regarding the ‘song’ ‘Nervous’.

My initial reaction would be that Nervous would be YDMN. It would make sense that some of the ideas if not songs that appeared on Killer were already floating around, but possibly not completed or maybe Ezrin felt like it/they weren't "finished." I'd be interested to find out for sure though.

Re: NervousIf you are taking nervous as teh 4th track solely from 'Me, Alice' I would disregard that bit of info and not think on it for too long. The book has tons of errors, and it's just as likely Alice miss-remembered the fourth track.

Also as Guttercat says I seem to recall Fields of Regret was re-recorded during the LITD period. It's the only old song on the LITD rehearsal tape that circulates.Fields of Regret could have been that fourth track.

From Ted Sallis:"It appears to me that 4 songs were initially recorded (likely in Oct. 1970),"

Yes and we all have The Doobie Bothers (at least kind of) to thank for that. That was Warner Brothers were prepared to pay for.

>then I’m Eighteen was released as a single on the date I mentioned above.

I remember raising this when "The Life And Crimes Of Alice Cooper" was released because that's the first time I know of that this strange piece of information came to light and although I have never seen any documentation to confirm this (such as a single with that year on it), Michael Bruce did say that's what happened. I remain doubtful though.

From guttertrash:"It would make sense that some of the ideas if not songs that appeared on Killer were already floating around, but possibly not completed or maybe Ezrin felt like it/they weren't "finished."

Yes. For example, "Dead Babies" (or part of the song that became "Dead Babies") had been around long before it was recorded in its final form.

Thanks for your replies everyone. Several points have been made which connect with what I have considered as explanations:

- guttertrash's initial reaction that 'Nervous' would be YDMN might be plausible but of course hasn't been confirmed at this point.

- guttertrash and Si respectively mention that a new arrangement of Fields of Regret was worked on/re-recorded during the LITD period, which I - along with Si - have thought could have been the 4th song.

- I am aware (as Si mentions) that Me, Alice has 'tons of errors' which is also why I came here to seek answers after reading the article I linked.

- I wasn't aware of The Doobie Brothers connection to the ACG's only being able to initially record 4 songs for LITD so thanks also (AMUK) for that info.

- YDMN and (as AMUK states above) Dead Babies were both around long before they were recorded for the Killer album so who knows what elements from either 1 or both of those songs might have ended up on other tracks. Dennis Dunaway mentioned YDMN as having been around long before Killer in an interview.

- it appears from AMUK's statement above on the subject that the inital release date of the I'm Eighteen single is still uncertain.

I guess we'll never know if those 4 recordings are part of the LITD demos we've heard or if they remain in a tape box somewhere gathering dust and losing oxide. I always thought they would have made for a good bonus track segment once cds were being issued.

I guess we'll never know if those 4 recordings are part of the LITD demos we've heard or if they remain in a tape box somewhere gathering dust and losing oxide. I always thought they would have made for a good bonus track segment once cds were being issued.

Maybe with the upcoming reissues - if they are still in the plan. I can dream and hope.

As an aside, I think it was in Michael Bruce's book that MB stated that when Warner Bros. first heard I'm Eighteen they refused to believe it was the same Group (that had made PFY and EA); apparently WB thought at first that Jack Richardson and Bob Ezrin had brought in another Group to record the song, as it sounded so different to the ACG's earlier releases.

I read the below info. posted in a facebook page (Boomerswag) which relates somewhat to the discussions in this thread and I wanted to share it here as I was previously unaware of YDMN having a different original title, though I'd always wondered why it was Nervous instead of Crazy on the album.

Quote:

#JohnnyRotten of the #SexPistols called #Killer the greatest rock album of all time. #AliceCooper released #YouDriveMeNervous in 1972, originally titled "You Drive Me Crazy," but guitarist #MichaelBruce thought it was too cliché so "Crazy" became "Nervous." PS #GoodMorning #Phoenix #Arizona!

Of course the above doesn't shed any more light on what the 4th song initially recorded for LITD was but maybe someone in here who hasn't seen this thread yet might chime in with some more info./insight.